clothandpaperstudio

11/30/16 - After not feeling good for the past week and only getting worse I finally went to my dr today. Severe Double Lung Pneumonia (yes, I CAN provide a pic with todays date and my name from the Dr's office if you'd like) Anyhow, I'm hoping to still get everything out on time, but I've not joined anything new (except for simple Christmas card swap or online things) because I've not felt well and didn't want to get behind. If I think I'm going to be late in a swap, I'll message BOTH the swap host & my partner(s) to let them know.

Hi there! My name is Mel. Who's that? you ask. Let's see. I'm a wife, mom to 3 beautiful children, grandma to 1 beautiful little girl, and the woman behind Cloth and Paper Studio.

Cloth and Paper Studio is my justification to hubby that I really do absolutely -need- all the fabric, yarn and craft supplies that I hoard. ;) I design and sell quilt patterns, hand embroidery patterns, and cross stitch patterns.

Aside from crafting I enjoy gardening and fishing with my hubby.

I love to crochet with any yarn and thread I can get my hands on, sew & quilt with any and all types of fabric and linen, and do some slow stitching in the form of hand embroidery. Some of the other crafts I enjoy include: jewelry making / beading; whittling; paper & book crafts; cross stitch; woodworking.

I can never get enough pretty threads (embroidery, floss, & regular sewing), yarns, buttons or fabric.

I have 2 long time quilt projects going on. One is a postage stamp quilt in which I use 2.5" sqaures of fabric and the other is a I Spy type of quilt. For the postage stamp quilt I'm collect 2.5" squares of 100% cotton fabric in any colors / prints. For the I Spy quilt I'm collecting 5" squares of 100% cotton fabric that has a cute, identifiable print.

I also collect vintage sewing supplies (including buttons), hoard yarn / fabric / and craft supplies in general.

Craft & DIY books. Also books on self-sufficiency, gardening, farming, animal husbandry, foraging, and building your own home. We (hubby and I) also collect vintage and antique books (yes, we know there's lead in the ink but we're not rubbing the ink all over us so I think we're safe ;) )

New country and things with a lively beat.

DIY Network, NatGeo, Discover

These are some things that I'm always happy to get in swaps:

• hot tea bags - no green, fruit flavored, or chamomille (ALLERGIC) please

• 2.5" fabric squares - 100% cotton - any colors / prints

• 5" fabric squares - 100% cotton - with cute prints for I Spy

• skeins of embroidery floss / threads - any brand / colors except black or white please

• buttons - new, vintage, or upcycled

• printed sewing or crochet patterns for quilts, accessories, bags / purses, toys

• craft or quilting magazines - used is fine :)

• fabric fat quarters

• pretty bits of leftover sock or sport weight yarn prefer at least 15 yards lengths please but can use pieces if they are at least 5 yards

• vintage sewing notions (I use them to decorate my sewing area)

• beads & jewlery findings - any but the more unusual the better. I also upcycle vintage costume jewelry for the beads

• vintage books with children's illustrations - I like to use the pictures for crafts

• flat gears, pieces from insides of broken watches (or the entire broken watch), vintage looking keys, pretty much anything that has a steampunk feel that can be used to make mixed media steampunk art

• goodies for my planner - stickers with places to write stuff; gel pens in pretty colors; stickers that help with planning; post it's; highlighters

Some of the various things I like. Everything from holidays and seasons to tea and chocolate to colors and styles. Basically the things I like in no particular order except as I think of listing them. ;)

• hot tea - I love almost all except no chamomile (ALLERGIC), no fruits, no plain green
• milk chocolate - it's even better if it includes caramel, peanut butter or sea salt
• colors I love include: pink; wine red; black and white with pops of color
• extra fine point pens
• gel pens
• my favorite holidays are my kids birthdays
• my planner
• fabric
• yarn
• sewing thread - I adore Aurifil threads in neutral colors to use for quilting. I also love metallic and verigated threads in any brands.
• embroidery threads & floss - all brands & colors
• vintage linens including but not limited to: doillies, any hand embroidered pieces, sheets & pillowcases, tablecloths, napkins
• paper napkins with amazing graphics / pictures / illustrations on them
• beads and buttons - all shapes and colors, both new and used
• fishing - we practice fish and then eat LOL we fresh water fish and I've got a problem with hoarding all kinds of lures and plastics (and always welcome more as long as it's for fresh water)
• jewelry - I have pierced ears; don't wear big / gaudy; prefer silver tone over gold

Christmas is always a big deal in our home.

Christmas Cards - for the various Christmas card swaps - I do NOT have a preference over religious vs non. I enjoy ALL Christmas cards - specially if they are cute/pretty -or- are of winter wonderland type outdoor imagery that includes snow. :) We are a spiritual family that favors the Christianity based faiths but are open to all positive Christmas themed verses / sayings on the cards.

Currently I have 3 different / main decorating themes depending on which area of the house you are in.

The kitchen / dining room is decorated in white and black with pops of 70's pink & turquoise all in a retro style.

The living room is decorated in blue and white / silver with the theme of everything snow and ice including snowmen. I try to make it look like a winter wonderland. Having lived most of my life in places where's there's no snow or ice, I enjoy creating a version of a winter wonderland for Christmas.

We have a large open area that's considered a hallway(?) that I decorate bright and happy. Most of the colors are traditional bright red and green. In this area is where the vast majority of the things my children made when they were smaller go. You know, all those bits and baubles that they were so proud of making in elementary school and scouts. This area is all tied together by giving it a rustic feel by using a woodland theme including burlap, lots of natural branches, and wildlife (deer, cute feathered owl ornaments, etc).

Things that I DON'T care for in regards to Christmas include: * anything that relates to warm weather Christmas - you know, like those pink flamingo's wearing Santa hats, Santa wearing a bathing suit, penguins water skiing, etc. * I don't decorate with Santa's *

There are several things that I'm asking everyone to please NOT send for various reasons.

• anything with Chamomile (allergic)

• anything with strong scents (severe asthma) - including any scented candles, perfumes, lotions, etc (rather be safe than gasping for air)

• any pale or light colored tea including and specially green tea

Thank you for your understanding

My littlest little is a girl who's almost 4 years old. She loves everything most typical little girls love including: making things, coloring, anything pink, anything sparkly, barbie dolls, baby dolls, singing, dancing, puppies, kitties, books and purses.

Some of her other likes include: fishing, embroidery, sewing on my sewing machine, helping me cook & clean, and helping in the veggie garden.